Tag Archives: Flag

We have the Right to Remain Offended: UC Irvine Students Banish American Flag

s-AMERICAN-FLAG-smallAcademic political correctness has completely jumped the shark. The Associated Students Legislative Council of my alma mater and former employer, the University of California, Irvine recently passed a piece of legislation prohibiting the display of the American flag in the ASUCI common area. Apparently they believe the Stars and Stripes are not “inclusive” enough for their rarified post-adolescent tastes. While the resolution passed by 6 to 4, council president Reza Zomorrodian bravely opposed this foolishness and the UCI Student Executive Council vetoed the measure tonight. However, the Legislative Council could still move to overturn that veto. Let us encourage them to drop the matter. There is so much wrong with this piece of student legislation drafted by Matthew Guevara that it is hard to know where to begin, but let me start with this twisted excerpt as an opener:

“Whereas a high-quality culturally inclusive spaces [sic] is essential in any society that embodies a dynamic and multifaceted culture.”

Firstly, the flag of the US cannot be “anti-inclusive” it is the embodiment of inclusiveness. It does not represent a traditional “nation” defined by race, religion, ethnicity or culture. It represents a bold experiment in personal liberty and equality. It represents the idea that a state can be founded on principles rather than tribal connections. It says, “God knows we are not perfect, but we aspire to perfection and we are united by that aspiration.” I’m sorry, but I’ve been around the world and I don’t believe there is any nation on Earth with a more “dynamic and multifaceted culture.” Not even close.

On the point of imperfection, the council’s resolution noted, “the American flag has been flown in instances of colonialism and imperialism.” Yep, we’ve done that bad thing and worse: land grabs from Mexico, flirtation with empire in the Philippines, genocide of Native Americans and the enslavement of African Americans. It’s a damn ugly record, but these entitled students want to expunge the symbol of the only system that is able to adapt and avoid repeating such errors.

The kids at UCI are intelligent and well educated (a state and federally subsidized education), but they lack the wisdom required to see the deeper lesson here. Voting for this imprudent rule misses the crucial point that we all know what America has done wrong because we have freedom of thought and speech. We acknowledge the sins of our past and unlike, say China or Iran, we don’t just rewrite history to hide our blemishes. We publicly debate, self-criticize, apologize and then move on, having learned in a way most other nations cannot.

Our forebears shed blood to expunge slavery and a later generation had to fight to make civil rights a real thing. They did these things under the very banner these students propose to dispose of. We are obviously still working on our problems in a very public way, but we constantly move forward. Every other tolerant and multicultural nation on Earth learned from America. Love it or hate it, the American flag represents a global ideal in a way that no other national symbol can. America is exceptional and I say it’s OK to say that, because we are free to speak.

A fundamental inability to understand free speech is captured by another tortured gem of political correctness from the resolution:

“Whereas freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech.”

Huh? O.K., let me be totally clear: I hate people who want to limit free speech; yep I said “hate!” Thomas Jefferson who hated them as well as demonstrated by the words inscribed in his memorial: “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” It is time for liberals and conservatives alike to understand that the value we gain from our freedom of expression is far more important than the feelings of any hypersensitive individuals or group. No person or group may take our fundamental rights away from us.

Consequently, I would never suggest that the members of the UCI student council not be allowed to express their thoughts or pass stupid resolutions, no matter how badly they have offended me (I am very offended). I’m proud to live in a nation that lets even entitled little brats publicly express their ignorance, because that is their right in the United States of America. Even though I truly hate their actions, I will defend their right to offend me. Like our nation, I did some pretty dumb things when I was young as well.

Greg Autry completed his MBA in 2002 and his PhD in 2013 at UCI. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor with the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. You can find him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/gregwautry

 

Victory is Sweeter than Appeasement – Commies on the Run in San Leandro

I’m very pleased to announce that the courageous Mayor of San Leandro California, Stephen Cassidy, has suspended the raising of the Communist Chinese flag over the City Hall. According to an article in Daily Review Mayor said, “San Leandro does not fly the flags of other nations at our City Hall.”

Please take the time to write or call and thank him for Mayor Cassidy for his decency.

Address: 835 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone:(510) 577-3355
And PLEASE DO GO TO SAN LEANDRO AND SPEND SOME MONEY. It’s a great town!
Next Up: Alemeda and Oakland California are apparently planning to repeat this mistake. So warm up your phones,  feet and keyboards. We will not stop until the appeasement of these totalitarian, militant, job stealing, organ harvesting criminals ends!
Greg Autry is a professor of entrepreneurship and economics. He serves as Senior Economist with the American Jobs Alliance and with the Coalition for a Prosperous America and is co-author (with Peter Navarro) of Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – a Global Call to Action. He blogs regularly at: http://www.gregautry.us/blog  and on the Huffington Post.

Five Stars Over California

CCP Flag1The  city council of San Leandro, corrupted by the lure of Chinese money (or should I say U.S. money being repatriated for influence), has decided to fly the flag of Communist China above its City Hall on Chinese “national day”, October 1.

This date celebrates the conquest of China by Mao’s brutal communist forces in 1949 and the establishment of a regime that has killed more people than any other on Earth. A regime that continues to this day to execute more of its own citizens than the entire globe combined. Many of them for religious and political dissent. Apparently “partnering” with these sort of criminals is what San Leandro wants to be known for.

A mocking of the American flag of equal sized starts, this flag symbolizes the inferior position of the Chinese people (small stars) in relation to the Party (BIG star) and the over all dominance of Communism (Red) in all aspects of society.

San Leandro offers this insult to many people including:

Korean Vets who watched their many Americans and allied soldiers go down in the face of China’s insane “human wave” attacks.

Tibetans who are watching their country be systematically dismantled and their people abused under Beijing’s colonial ambitions.

Vietnamese Americans who had their own country stolen from them by communist forces backed by China.

Falun Gong who have been persecuted, rounded up, forced to labor in prison camps and executed so their organs and bodies could be sold for profit to the West.

Christians who have had their bibles restricted, their churches demolished. This is a country where the Catholic Church is prevented from selecting its own Bishops by the Communist Party.

Millions of Unemployed Americans who have lost their job to China’s cyber espionage, currency manipulation, and trade abuses.

San Leandro has voted to spit on all of these people.

I strongly urge you to contact the leaders of San Leandro and let them know what you think. City Hall Phone: (510) 577-3357

If you can go there on October 1st and show your disgust for this gesture and demonstrate your support for America and our values that would be great.

Bring your own food and fill up your gas tank before you enter town.NEVER DO ANY BUSINESS IN OR WITH A SAN LEANDRO FIRM. Boycott China, Boycott San Leandro.

note:  Mayor Stephen Cassidy courageously opposed this action. You can thank him at: (510) 577-3355

Greg Autry is a professor of entrepreneurship and economics. He serves as Senior Economist with the American Jobs Alliance and with the Coalition for a Prosperous America and is co-author (with Peter Navarro) of Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – a Global Call to Action. He blogs regularly at: http://www.gregautry.us/blog  and on the Huffington Post.